José Mourinho is expected to be confirmed as Real Madrid’s manager for a second spell in the coming days, with reports describing negotiations as already completed. His return is framed by Spain and Portugal as an agreement reached despite Mourinho’s public in
Jose Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid has entered the final stretch. with Spanish media painting a swift path to an announcement after negotiations are said to have been completed.. The expectation is that his second spell at the Bernabéu will be made official within days. even as the Portuguese coach prepares to oversee Benfica for a final time on Saturday night.
Mourinho’s timing, however, carries a sting of contradiction.. In the build-up to Benfica’s last league match of the campaign against Estoril. Mourinho insisted pre-match that he had not been in touch with Real Madrid—no contact with the president or anyone in the club’s structure.. Yet reports from both Spain and Portugal say the agreement for his return has already been reached.
Those reports also place Mourinho in direct competition for the role. naming France coach Didier Deschamps and United States manager Mauricio Pochettino as alternatives.. Despite that field. the picture in Madrid is that Mourinho was the clear favourite. with president Florentino Pérez seen as backing him to return. and his status boosted further by the sense that Real Madrid’s dressing room disputes have made “control” an urgent priority.
The contract details described in the reporting add another layer to the switch.. Mourinho is set to sign an initial two-year contract with Real Madrid. with an official announcement due in the coming days—possibly after Real Madrid’s season concludes next weekend.. There are also claims of a clause in his Benfica deal allowing Real Madrid to pay compensation of around £2.6m. said to become active within 10 days of Benfica’s final league game.
For Mourinho, the next week is being treated as decisive.. On Friday. the 63-year-old said he speaks with Benfica president Rui Costa “practically every day. ” but insisted that on Wednesday he received an official written offer from Benfica.. Mourinho said he told the club he did not want anything right then. adding that the decision window would follow once the season ended.. He also reiterated the line that with Real Madrid he had “no contact. ” not with the president nor any important figure. and said negotiations around his future would be decided within the “window of a few days” based on the contract and agreement he signed when he arrived.
Real Madrid’s current leadership is also addressing the pressure.. Under-fire boss Álvaro Arbeloa was asked at a press conference about whether Mourinho will succeed him on Saturday morning.. Arbeloa responded that once the club makes its decision. “they’ll announce it when they deem it appropriate. ” while also voicing support for the Portuguese coach.. Arbeloa said Mourinho would always be “one of us. ” adding that if he comes back. he would be “very happy to have him home.”
The story is tethered to Mourinho’s history with the club.. He previously managed Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, winning one LaLiga title, a Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup.. That era included hard-fought battles against Barcelona. who were led by Pep Guardiola. and the current speculation is also linked to what Mourinho has described as “unfinished business. ” particularly after losing three consecutive Champions League semi-finals while he was in charge.
His Benfica contract runs until the summer of 2027. but Real Madrid’s urgency appears to be shaped by more than nostalgia.. As the season winds down without a trophy, claims of unrest inside the squad have been growing.. Reports last week said midfielder Federico Valverde was taken to hospital after an altercation with Aurélien Tchouaméni. described as the second row between the pair within two days.. Álvaro Carreras and Antonio Rüdiger were also reported to have been involved in a physical confrontation. leaving the atmosphere even further strained.
Kylian Mbappé added fuel on Thursday by claiming Arbeloa told him he is now Real Madrid’s “fourth choice” striker, a remark he made amid the wider questions about harmony behind the scenes.
Florentino Pérez has tried to shut down the narrative of chaos.. The 79-year-old dismissed claims that Real Madrid has “descended into chaos. ” announcing presidential elections in a rare press conference this week.. Pérez used the platform to attack perceived threats in the media. the standard of refereeing. and possible rivals. urging them to come forward and challenge him.
The timing of Mourinho’s return sits uncomfortably alongside these internal fractures: Mourinho’s insistence on having “no contact” with Real Madrid is being set against Spanish and Portuguese claims that the decision has already been agreed. while the club simultaneously navigates public talk of dressing-room conflict and leadership questioning ahead of the end of a trophyless season.
If the reported timeline holds. Mourinho’s new chapter at Real Madrid will begin after he finishes his work at Benfica. with his 2027 deal still running at the Portuguese club and his move to Madrid expected to be formalised in the coming days—potentially after the Spanish season closes next weekend.
José Mourinho Real Madrid Benfica Estoril Álvaro Arbeloa Florentino Pérez Didier Deschamps Mauricio Pochettino Federico Valverde Aurélien Tchouaméni Kylian Mbappé